New Delhi:  The Covid 19 pandemic and the fear around it have become a ground for rumours and fake news being circulated in social media raising concerns about authenticity on several issues.

In a latest rumour which has gained momentum is the claim on restaurants and hotels remaining shut till October 15.  However, the state-run Prasar Bharati News Services clarified on Wednesday quelling concerns regarding the order being cited for the claim as completely fake.

The claim has been made that the Tourism Ministry has asked restaurants and hotels to remain closed till October 15.

In a slew of measures taken by the government to contain the spread of the virus, hotels have been asked to remain close catering to guests who remained stranded due to lockdown. However, restaurants were ordered to close their dine-in facilities to restrict the gathering of people.

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It was clarified that any kind of eatery will be allowed to operate food delivery functions as fall under essential services which will remain unaffected because of the 21-day-nationwide lockdown.

However, the businesses fear that the business will be badly impacted because people might not be too comfortable attending dine-in services even after the lifting of the lockdown.

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The stringent lockdown measures across cities, restaurants, bars, and eateries had impacted footfalls severely in top cities such as Mumbai, Pune and  Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, restaurant owners are looking to get some relief on rentals in order to sustain their businesses. Besides extension on deadlines for renewing certain licences required to operate restaurants and bars including moratorium on loans for small businesses.